Lamium plant named ‘Dellam’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Lamium plant named ‘Dellam’, characterized by its unique and attractive tri-colored variegated foliage; compact, freely branching and somewhat spreading growth habit; somewhat inconspicuous, but numerous lavender-colored flowers; plants typically do not scorch during the summer; and are relatively winter hardy.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Lamiumplant, botanically known as Lamium maculatum and referred to by thecultivar name ‘Dellam’.

The new Lamium was discovered by the Inventor as a naturally-occurringwhole plant mutation of the nonpatented Lamium maculatum cultivar ‘GoldNuggets’ in the autumn of 1997 in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, UnitedKingdom. The new Lamium was selected on the basis of its uniquetri-colored foliage.

Asexual reproduction of the new Lamium by terminal cuttings taken in acontrolled environment in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom, hasshown that the unique features of this new Lamium are stable and arereproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new Lamium has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations inenvironment such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without,however, any variance in genotype.

The following characteristics have been repeatedly observed and aredetermined to be basic characteristics of ‘Dellam’ and distinguish‘Dellam’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Unique and attractive tri-colored variegated foliage that ischartreuse to dull yellow at the margin, dull green interior to outermargin, and gray-green at the center.

2. Strong growing; compact, freely branching and somewhat spreadinggrowth habit.

3 . Somewhat inconspicuous, but numerous lavender-colored flowers.

4. Plants typically do not scorch in the summer.

5. Relatively winter hardy in England.

Compared to plants of the parent, the cultivar ‘Gold Nugget’, plants ofthe new Lamium differ in foliage color and are stronger growing, resistscorching and are more winter hardy.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Lamium, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a top perspective viewof a typical potted plant of ‘Dellam’.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises close-up views oftypical developing flowers and leaves of ‘Dellam’. Flower and foliagecolors in the photographs may appear different from the actual colorsdue to light reflectance.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following observations, measurements, values, and comparisonsdescribe plants grown in Bonsall, Calif., under outdoor full-sunconditions with day temperatures ranging from 18 to 35° C., nighttemperatures ranging from 13 to 18° C. Plants were planted in 20-cmcontainers with three plants per container and grown for about 8 to 12weeks. Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural SocietyColour Chart except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

Botanical classification: Lamium maculatum cultivar ‘Dellam’.

Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Lamium maculatumcultivar ‘Gold Nuggets’, not patented.

Propagation:

Type.—By cuttings.

Time to initiate roots.—Summer: About 14 days at temperatures of 21° C.Winter: About 21 days at temperatures of 18° C.

Time to develop roots.—About 28 days at temperatures of 18° C. duringthe summer.

Root description.—Fine and freely branching.

Plant description:

General appearance.—Herbaceous; low, compact and somewhat spreadingplant; lavender flowers that are somewhat inconspicuous. May be annualor perennial depending on temperatures. Suitable for 12.5 to 25-cmcontainers and hanging baskets. To produce a finished flowering plant ina 12.5-cm container from rooted cuttings, about 8 to 12 weeks arerequired depending on temperature and light level.

Plant height.—About 12 cm.

Plant diameter or spread.—About 16 cm.

Growth rate/vigor.—Moderately vigorous.

Stem description.—Branching: Freely branching, typically about 8laterals and numerous secondary laterals. Appearance: Square incross-section. Lateral branch length: About 12.5 cm. Lateral branchdiameter: About 3 mm. Internode length: About 1.5 to 2.5 cm. Texture:Pubescent. Color: 145A.

Foliage description.—Arrangement: Opposite, single. Quantity: About 24per primary lateral branch; secondary laterals, about 7. Shape: Ovate tocordate. Apex: Broadly acute. Base: Cordate. Margin: Serrate to dentate.Length, lower leaves: About 3.25 cm. Width, lower leaves: About 3.75 cm.Texture: Soft; matte; fuzzy, fine hairs on both surfaces. Petiolelength: About 1.5 cm. Petiole diameter: About 2 mm. Color: Young leaves,upper surface: Chartreuse at the margin, 154A; dull green, 137A,interior to outer margin, and gray-green, 148B, at the center. Youngleaves, lower surface: Dull yellow, 11B, at margin, green, 147B, atcenter. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Dull yellow, 11B, at themargin, dull green, 137A, interior to outer margin, and gray-green, 148Bat the center. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Dull yellow, 11B,at margin, green, 147B, at center. Petiole: 144D.

Flowering description:

Flowers.—Zygomorphic, galeate, axillary single flowers arranged inverticillasters of 5 or 6 per node. Petals fused into galeate flowerform with hood-like upper lip and three-lobed lower lip. Flowers openrapidly and continue to develop rapidly lasting for only a few days.Self-cleaning. Not fragrant.

Natural flowering season.—Natural flowering season is spring to fall;flowering continuous during this period.

Quantity of flowers.—Very floriferous with typically about 26 openflowers and flower buds per lateral stem; about 200 open flowers andflower buds per plant.

Flower height.—About 1.5 cm.

Flower width.—About 9 mm.

Flower aspect.—Upright to nodding.

Flower buds.—Shape: Oblong. Length: About 6 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm.Color: Distal, 145D; proximal, 76B.

Petals.—Arrangement and shape: Zygomorphic and galeate; petals fusedinto galeate flower form with hood-like upper lip and tri-lobed lowerlip. Rounded apex and entire margin. Texture: Tomentose. Color: Whenopening (both surfaces): Distal, 145D; proximal, 76B. Mature (bothsurfaces): Distal, 76A; proximal, 155D.

Sepals.—Quantity: Sepals fused; five-pointed, star-shaped calyx. Apex:Acute. Margin: Entire. Calyx length: About 5 mm. Calyx diameter: About 4mm. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Upper surface, 144B; lower surface, 144A.

Peduncle.—Length: About 1 mm. Strength: Strong. Angle: Acute. Color:144A.

Androecium.—Stamen number: Typically four per flower. Anther shape:Ovate. Anther size: About 0.1 mm. Anther texture: Pubescent. Anthercolor: 24A. Amount of pollen: Moderate. Pollen color: 24A.

Gynoecium.—Pistil number: One per flower. Stigma shape: Bifurcate.Pistil length: About 0.2 mm. Style color: 155C. Stigma color: 155C.Ovary color: 145B.

Disease resistance: Disease resistance to pathogens common to Lamium hasnot been observed.

Seed/fruit production: Seed and fruit production has not been observed.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Lamium plant named‘Dellam’, as illustrated and described.